Blackwater (World's most powerful 'Mercenary Army' in Pakistan By Aamir Latif, IOL Correspondent Jun 23, 2008, 10:27

ISLAMABAD "” The notorious US security firm Blackwater has reportedly established a presence in the restive tribal belt on the Afghan borders to help the FBI and CIA track down Al-Qaeda and Taliban militants allegedly hiding there and protect USAID projects.

"We have sent a report to the government regarding Backwater's presence in the country," an intelligence official told Islamonline.net requesting anonymity for not being authorized to discuss the sensitive issue.

Intelligence sources say that currently 20 to 25 Blackwater agents are operating in the North Western Frontier Province (NWFP), which borders Afghanistan, masquerading themselves as US intelligence and diplomatic officials.

"They are trying to establish their feet. They are hiding themselves under the diplomatic and FBI covers."

He said Blackwater has hired the services of some local security agencies to work for them.

"We are keeping an eye on the security agencies they have hired."

The intelligence official says Blackwater came to the tribal belt for two reasons.

"First, to track down Al-Qaeda and Taliban leaders, which US agencies believe are hiding along the Pak-Afghan border. Secondly, to provide security to the various projects launched by USAID in NWFP, and some tribal areas."

The South Carolina-based security firm gained world notoriety over involvement in dozens of unprovoked civilian killings in Iraq.

Established 10 years ago by Erik Prince , a former Navy SEAL and a right-wing son of a multi-millionaire, the security consulting firm has grown into what US investigative reporter Jeremy Scahill describes as the "world's most powerful mercenary army."

Riding machine-gun mounted utility vehicles, Blackwater's armed contractors have gained notoriety for shooting first and not bothering to ask questions later.

A recent US congressional report discovered Blackwater has been involved in 195 shooting incidents since 2005, mostly unprovoked.

Connections

The intelligence official says that the Pakistani security agencies hired by Blackwater are providing security services to the country's major financial and trade institutions.

"We have been told by some senior bank officials that they have recently been quizzed by some US and Pakistani people who showed themselves as diplomats about funding and accounts of pro-Al-Qaeda and Taliban organizations," he told IOL.

"We believe after checking with the US embassy that they were not diplomats, but Blackwater agents.

"It seems they are interested in getting information about funding sources for militant organizations."

A FBI-sponsored "Spider Group" comprising retired Pakistani intelligence and military officers, mostly Christians, has already been operating in different parts of the country for the last five years.

Various spies hired by the Spider Group to track down Al-Qaeda and Taliban leaders have been killed by militants in the tribal area.

The intelligence official argues that Blackwater agents are very much active in neighboring Afghanistan too.

"They have been working there, especially in the southern provinces for at least the last year."

Defense and security analysts argue that the presence of Blackwater would rather complicate the security situation in Pakistan.

"This is a huge threat for our national security," Hamid Mir, an Islamabad-based defense and security analyst, told IOL.

He claims that Blackwater is not only operating in Peshawar but is also active in the southern port city of Karachi.

"The US (intelligence) agencies think that a number of Al-Qaeda and Taliban leaders are hiding in Karachi and Peshawar. That is why, its (Blackwater) agents are operating in these two cities."

Mir believes that unlike Iraq and Afghanistan, Blackwater would not operate with impunity in Pakistan.

"In Iraq and Afghanistan, Blackwater has had the cover and support of occupational forces, but the situation is different in Pakistan," he contends.

"Here, it has to depend on local informers, who unfortunately or fortunately are double agents. And many of them who really worked for the US agencies, have been killed by the militants."